Concentration of ores by flotation



with t Patented May 19 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE IIsBI'JIIJBRIDGE G. MOSES, OF NEW YORK, RAYMOND W. HESS, F BUFFALOQAND ROBERT I. PERKINS, OF AURORA, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORS TO THE BARRETT COMPANY,

OF NEW YORK, N. Y A CORPORATION 01 NEW JERSEY OONCENTRATION 0F ORES BY I'LOTATION llo Drawing.

This invention relates to the separation of minerals and the concentration of ores b flotation processes, and is particularly directed to such separation an concentration carried out with the utilization of certain thiazole compounds or bodies as flotation agents.

Accordin to the present invention, improved resu ts can be obtained in the separation of minerals and the concentration of ores b carr ing out-the flotation operation lie ad ition to the ore or mineral pulp of a mercaptothiazole compound containing a monovalent organic radical as a substituent attached to one of the two adjacent carbon atoms in the thiazole nucleus.

The substituted mercaptothiazoles particularly contemplated as flotation agents or adjuvants in the process of the present invention are generally characterized by the formula wherein R re resents ahydrocarbon' radical particular y an alkyl grou cially a methyl grou It wil be noted that the adjacent car on atoms which are 0 double bonded to each other in the thiazole In carrying out the flotation process, .the

40 flotation agent comprising a mercaptothiazole compound of the character mentioned ma be incorporated with the ore or mineral pu p in any suitable manner and at any suitable time which will insure a. satisfacw tory flotation operation. For example, it

and espe-' Application flied Kay 20. 1927. Serial No. 193,055.

may be introduced in the free state or as a saltinto the mill in which the ore is being ground, or it may be dissolved, suspende or dispersed in any suitable solvent or dispersing a ent as, for example, in one or pension or dis ersion incor orated with the ore or minera pulp. Whlethe a cuts of the present invention show marke as flotation or collectin agents in ore concentration, they generalfi possess insuflicient frothing qualities and are therefore ordinarily used. to advantage in conjunction with any suitable or well-known-frothin agent, e. g., pine oil, crude turpentine, coa tar acids, etc. They may be also sometimes used to advantage in conjunction with other flotation agents. Further they ma be used in the pure or purified state; or t ey ma in general, be also employed in the cru e state.

The process f the present invention can be carried out In an suitable apparatus, for example, those of t e neumatic type such as the Callow cell, or those where the air is incorporated with the mixture by a 'tation such as the Janney apparatus, or t e like.

It is of advantage in some cases, as with certaincopper ores, to subject the ore pulp to the action of an amount of alkali sufiicient to give it an alkaline reaction before subjecting it to flotation with the aid of the flotation agents of the present invention. The alkali may be caustic alkali such as caustic soda, or an alkaline salt such as soda ash, or it ma be calcium oxide or hydrate. In the difl erential separation of various minerals, such as zinc blende from associated minerals, the presence of an alkali metal cyanide, or of copper sulfate or other salts, is sometimes advantageous.

Theamount of flotation agent required action to be used in the flotation rocess will vary, it depending partly on t e character and com osition 0 the ore, partly on the particu ar mercaptothiazole derivative employed, and partly on other factors. In many cases, one-sixth to one-half pound of the flotation agent per ton of dry ore will be suflicient, while in other cases larger or smaller amounts than this may be required.

The invention will be further illustrated by the following specific example, but it will be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. The parts are by weight.

Example: 500 parts of a copper sulfide ore (of the Miami Copper Company) assaying 1.27 percent copper was ground in a ball mill with 300 parts water and 0.75 parts hydrated lime (equivalent to 3 pounds per ton of ore) until practically all of it was sufficiently fine to pass aAO-mesh screen. The ground pulp was diluted with suflicient water to 've a pulp containing about 16 percent solids and subjected to flotation in a J anney mechanical apparatus with the addition of 0.0625 parts of Q-merca tolmethylthiazole (equivalent to oneourth pound per ton of ore) previously dissolved in an equivalent amount of normal caustic soda solution. The mixture was agitated for 30 minutes during which time about 0.06 parts of pine oil was introduced. 21.2 parts of a concentrate assaying 22.9 percent copper was obtained which is a recovery in the concentrate of 7 7.6 percent of copper. The tailings assa ed 0.31 percent copper. It will be note that the equivalent of about 23.4 tons of ore was required to give one ton of concentrate.

It will thus be noted that the vention contemplates the utilization of substituted mercaptot-hiazolc bodies as flotation agents; that said flotation agents may be incorporated in or with the ore in any suitable manner; that they may be used in conjunction with other flotation agents or with frothing agents, or with both; and that they may be used in the free state or as salts, or in solution, suspension or dispersion in any suitable solvent or medium.

The present invention is of more or less general applcation to the treatment of diferent kinds of mineral substances, both natural and artificial, b flotation.

It will be further un erstood that the invention is not limited to the use of the particular agents or ingredients mentioned in the example and that other agents, particularly other flotation agents of the class specified, can be similarly used.

We claim:

1. In effecting the concentration of minerals by flotation, the process which comprises lncorporating with the mineral pulp a mercaptothiazole com ound containing a monovalent organic radical as a substituent resent inii c-sn H- -s wherein R denotes a hydrocarbon radical, and subjecting the resulting mixture to a froth flotation operation.

4. In effecting the concentration of minerals by flotation, the process which comprises incorporating with the mineral pulp a mercaptothiazole compound having in the free state the probable formula wherein R denotes an alkyl group, and sub jecting the resulting mixture to a froth flotation o eration.

5. In e ecting the concentration of minerals by flotation, the process which com prlses incorporating with the mineral pulp a mecaptothiazole compound having in the free state the probable formula n- -s and subjecting the resulting mixture to a froth flotation operation.

6. In effecting the concentration of minerals by flotation, the process which comprises subjecting a cop er sulfide ore in the form of. a pulp to a roth flotation operation in the presence of a merca othiazole hailllg in the free state the pro able formu a:

wherein R denotes an alkyl group.

8. In effecting the concentration of minerals by flotation, the process which com- C-SH 1,soa,aas

rises subjecting a. cop r sulfi ie ore in the 01m of a pulp to a ir h flotatmn operation in the resence of-a merca tothiazole having in a free state the 0 owing probable 5 formula:

il-9. t In testimony whreof we afiix our signaures. FREDERICK G. MOSES.

RAYMOND W. HESS. ROBERT L. PERKINS.

' rises subjecting a cop r sulfide ore in the cm of a. pulp to a tr h flotation operation n the resenoo ofa moron. tothiuzole havmg m 0 free state the f owing probable 5 formula:

'In testimony whereof we am: our signem tures.

FREDERICK G. mosms. RAYMOND w. mass. ROBERT L. PERKINS.

CERTIFICATE or connection.

12mm No. $806,362. V Gama May 19. '1931, to

FREDERICK c. .nosas m AL.

It is hereby certified that error appem in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Plge l, in the hot line -0! the formula between line 21 and 25. for "N" linked to the 5 G atom reed H;

- and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein 'thet' the acme may-coniorm'to the record of the me in the Patent Office.

Siznedgand eeeied this 7th day of July, A. D, 1931.

J (5!) v Acting Commissioner oi Pateete".

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,806,362. Granted May 19, 1931. to

FREDERICK G. MOSES ET AL.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 1, in the last line of the formula between lines 21 and 25, for "N" linked to the 5 C atom read H; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 7th day of July, A. D. 1931.

M. J. Moore, (Seal) Acting Comiaaioncr of Patcuta. 

